Cloned DNA sequences that determine mRNA stability of bacteriophage ФX174in vivoare functional

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Abstract
The stability of two species of øx174 polycistronio mRNA in vivo can be altered by mutating sequences existing immediately upstream of a termination site. The wild type phage contains an mRNA stabilixing sequence ((+) sequence), while the same sequence mutated by insertion ((−) sequence) reduces the stability of the mRNAs. These two sequences were cloned at the 3′ ends of gene D or gene B of øX174 in a pBR322 derivative plasmid. The cloned sequences were functional. The (+) sequence stabilized gene B or gene D mRNA; half-lives of these mRNAs were 7 to 8 min. When the (+) sequence is eliminated ((o) sequence) or replaced with the (−) sequence, the half-lives of the mRNA were reduced to about 1 to 2 min. The stabilisation of mRNAs caused an increased production of these proteins.